Device and method for extracting physiological data

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for extracting physiological data from the skin of a body, wherein the apparatus includes at least one fingerprint sensor for ascertaining a blackening profile and a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure profile for a pressure exerted on the fingerprint sensor.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An apparatus for extracting physiological data from skin of a body, comprising: 
       at least one fingerprint sensor for detecting a blackening density profile, the at least one fingerprint sensor having a contact surface;  
       a pressure sensor via which a pressure profile of a pressure exerted on the contact surface of the at least one fingerprint sensor can be measured, the pressure sensor being disposed at the at least one fingerprint sensor on a side opposite that of the contact surface; and  
       a normalization unit to which the blackening density profile and the pressure profile are fed for purposes of generating a pressure-normalized blackening density profile.  
     
     
       2. An apparatus for extracting physiological data as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a pulse unit to which the pressure-normalization blackening density profile is fed for purposes of detecting periodic portions of the pressure-normalized blackening density profile. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus for extracting physiological data as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is incorporated into a lie detector. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus for extracting physiological data as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is incorporated into a life detection instrument. 
     
     
       5. A method for lie detection using a lie detector which includes an apparatus for extracting physiological data from skin of a body, the method comprising the steps of: 
       providing, as part of the apparatus, at least one fingerprint sensor for detecting a blackening density profile, the at least one fingerprint sensor having a contact surface;  
       providing, as part of the apparatus, a pressure sensor via which a pressure profile of a pressure exerted on the contact surface of the at least one fingerprint sensor can be measured, the pressure sensor being disposed at the at least one fingerprint sensor on a side opposite to the contact surface; and  
       correlating a variation in the blackening density profile to at least one question asked of a test person and at least one response given by the test person.  
     
     
       6. A method for detecting life using an apparatus for extracting physiological data from skin of a body, the method comprising the steps of: 
       providing, as part of the apparatus, at least one fingerprint sensor for detecting a blackening density profile, the at least one fingerprint sensor having a contact surface;  
       providing, as part of the apparatus, a pressure sensor via which a pressure profile of a pressure exerted on the contact surface of the at least one fingerprint sensor can be measured, the pressure sensor being disposed at the at least one fingerprint sensor on a side opposite to the contact surface;  
       providing, as part of the apparatus, a pulse unit for ascertaining cyclic components of the blackening density profile; and  
       providing an alarm signal upon detection of the cyclic components.